Roofing-tongs.



FRANK C. MCOUSKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROOFING-TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed June 29,1907- Serial No. 381,475.

To all whom. it. may concern:

.Ro it. known that I, FRANK C. MoCUsxnn, a citizen ol the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ol Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usel'ul Improvements in 'llotding longs, of which the lollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in tinners tongs designed lor use in bending or forming the seaming lips used in making the seams ol' tin roots; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

in the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of tongs embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view ol the jaw carrying the gage plate, the latter being in place. Fig. 3 is a detail view ol' the inner side oi the other jaw. and Fig. 'l is a detail perspective view, portions being broken away, ol the gage plate,

The tongs, as shown, comprise the jaws A and B which l'or convenience of reference I term the under and upper jaw, the jaw A carrying the gage plate and the jaw B being constructed to cooperate with the jaw A and the gage plate in the use 01' the invention. These jaws A and I3 are provided, respectively, with handle bars C and D which are pivoted together at E, and a spring F on the handle bar D above the pivot E engages with the pin G on the handle bar C and operates to open the jaws alter the seam flange is bent and the handle bars are released so the jaws may be slipped along to position to operate upon the joined portions of the tin. This spring F and its cooperating part G are usel'ul in that they avoid the necessity of workmen opening the jaws as the spring opens the jaws instantly on releasing the handle bars, in the operation of the invention.

The jaw A is shown as a flat plate which may be slotted and perlorated in order to lighten it and it is made of stillicient width to properly support the gage plate II, which latter rests flat against the inner face of the lower jaw A, has its ends it bent alongside the ends of the jaw A to aid in guiding the gage plate, and has a lower straight edge l, is provided near the ends of its lower straight edge I with forwardly projecting stop lugs .l and has the upwardly projecting arms K near its opposite ends, which arms are slotted at L, and rest llat upon the lower jaw A so they may slide with the plate up and down on the said jaw when the clamping devices are released. The clamping devices are shown threaded studs i\l projecting out wardly l'rom the upper lace ol' the lower jaw A through the slots L of the arms K and receiving winged nuts N which may be tightened to secure the arms K and the gage plate in any desired adjustment.

The jaw A is provided near its ends with a graduated scale 0 with which the gage plate registersso it may be accurately set to form seaming strips ol any desired height.

The upper jaw B is made narrower than the lower jaw A so it will not interfere with the operation ol the winged nuts N and it is provided with. the slots P leading from its upper edge and receiving the stop lugs .l, the jaw 13 being provided with the bridge connections Q over the upper ends of the slots P and reinforcing the jaw l3 at its upper edge giving it the necessary strength at its slotted portions.

An important leature ol my invention is the adjustable gage plate in the particular construction shown, which can be set on the lower jaw ol tongs in such manner as to term a seaming lip of any desired width. -.\s is well understood it is necessary for tinners to employ several tongs each designed l'or forming the lip of a corresponding width. By my improved tongs the gage plate can be conveniently set to lorm a lip of any suitable width and the gage plate can be adjusted quickly to the desired position whenever occasion requires.

The gage plate is carried on the lower jaw and clamping devices for said plate are also carried on the said jaw in convenient reach of the operator, and the devices for securing the adjustment of the tongs do not; materially add to the weight of the tongs, as will be understood from the drawings and l'oregoing description.

I claim 1. The tongs herein described comprising the lower or main jaw provided at its ends with the graduated scales and having near said ends the upwardly projecting thread ed studs. the gage plate provided at its lower edge near its ends with the upwardly projectingstop lugs and having the slotted arms extending along the face of the tongs jaw with the slots thereof receiving the threaded studs, the winged nuts on said studs, the upper jaw provided with the transverse slots receiving the stop lugs ot' the gage plate and also having the bridge connections extending over the said slots and reinforcing the tongs jaw. the gage plate having its main or body portion :tr .nged and operating between the inner faces of the opposing tongjaws and extendingapproximately throughout. the length of said jaws handle bars secured to their respective jaws and pivoted togetherand the spring acting upon the s id handle bars to open the jaws when the handle bars are released. substantially as set forth.

2. An adjustable rooting tongs comprising a jaw plate provided near said ends with the forwardly projecting threaded studs, the gage plate fitting against the said jaw and having at its lower edge upwardly projecting stop lugs and also provided with the projecting arms slotted 3. A roofing tongs having jaws and pivoted handle bars 10 longitudinally with the slots thereof fitting over the and provided with a spring on one of the handle bars and a threaded studs, nuts on the studs for securing the gage pin on the other handle bar for engagement by said spring, plate in any desired adjustment and the jaw having slots the latter operating to open the jaws when the handle bars receiving the stop lugs of the gage plate, the gage plate are released, substantially as set forth.

having its main or body portion arranged and operating FRANK C. MCCUSKER. between the inner faces of the opposing tong jaws and Witnesses: extending approximately throughout the length of said ROBERT A. CAMPBELL,

jaws, substantially as set forth. MARY I. BRADLEY. 

